Meridia Heart Attacks Prompt Diet Pill Recalls

Meridia Diet Pill Recalled by FDA

On October 8th, 2010, the drug maker Abbott Laboratories and the FDA announced that it will withdraw Meridia from the US Market. The obesity drug was recalled because of the increased risk of suffering severe cardiac complications, including heart attack and stroke.

After reviewing data from the Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial (SCOUT), the FDA has requested the market withdrawal. The SCOUT trial demonstrated a 16 percent increase in the risk of serious heart events, including non-fatal heart attack, non-fatal stroke, the need to be resuscitated once the heart stopped, and death. This data was compared a group of patients given sibutramine and another given placebo. There was a small difference in weight loss between the placebo group and the group that received sibutramine.

The recall suggests that doctors stop prescribing the drug and patients terminate their use of the drug immediately. Patients should talk to their health care provider about alternative weight loss and weight loss maintenance programs.

What is the Meridia diet pill?

Meridia was approved in 1998 for weight loss and maintenance of weight loss according to the FDA website. Since its release, Meridia has been connected to many adverse reactions and side effects. Meridia was closely scrutinized while it remained on the market.

Side Effects associated with Meridia include:

Heart Attack

Stroke

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH)

Heart valve damage

Death

If you or someone you know has suffered from Meridia®, please contact the attorneys at Bachus & Schanker, LLC for a free and immediate initial review of your case.